Method and apparatus for trimming and splitting double books into separate books



W. B. M CAIN Sept. 21, 1965 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING ANDSPLITTING DOUBLE BOOKS INTO SEPARATE BOOKS Filed Feb. 28, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor William. B.MCairz. 5g, wafwceJfMwaud Dam) Sept.21, 1965 w. B. M CAlN 3,207,017

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING AND SPLITTING DOUBLE BOOKS INTOSEPARATE BOOKS Filed Feb. 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 84- 8Q InverznorWilliam B.MCai n. B5, zwwau, KWMDM n 'fiornegps Sept. 21, 1965 w. B.MCCAIN 3,207,017

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING AND SPLITTING DOUBLE BOOKS INTOSEPARATE BOOKS Filed Feb. 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invenior WilliamBMCain -fiwafllhm wawlpm Sept. 21, 1965 w. B. MCCAIN 3,207,017

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING AND SPLITTING DOUBLE BOOKS INTOSEPARATE BOOKS Filed Feb. 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 an m L 4 1 1Invent?!" I07. 'wlllmm. 5. MCcnn as w E /WaZMe KM w 149W United StatesPatent METHOD AND Ai PARATUS FUR TRIMMKN G AND SPLITTHNG DGUBLE BOOKSINTO SEPARATE BOOKS William B. McCain, Hinsdale, Ill., assignor toChicago Machinery Laboratory, Inc, tlhicago, lit, a corporation ofIllinois Filed Feb. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 348,200 12 Claims. (Cl. 83-47)This invention relates to the method of and an apparatus for trimmingand splitting a double book or stack of double books into separate andidentical books.

During their formation, books, pamphlets and magazines are often printedas a double book with separate and duplicate printed matter on each ofthe sheets. The double book is split or severed into two separate anddistinct books which are identical in size and subject matter. However,the double books, to which the present invention is particularlydirected, have a central, unprinted portion or area which needs to becut or severed from the double book. Inasmuch as a non-printed border oneither of the split books is not acceptable, the entire unprintedportion of the double book is removed. The non-printed area between theidentical printed matter on a double book is the result of a type ofprinting operation wherein interior retaining hooks for printed platesare disposed between adjacent printing plates for printing identicalsubject matter at two spaced locations on the same sheet.

In accorance with one established procedure, the double book, prior tobeing split, is trimmed at the head, bottom and front edges by aso-called three knife trimmer to trim the double book to the propersize. The double book then is presented to so-called fourth and fifthknife trimmers which serve to split the double book at the fourth knifeto form two books, one of which is a proper size without furtheroperations thereon, and the other of which is of a larger size andincludes the blank or non-printed area which must be trimmed by a fifthknife to bring the larger book to the proper size.

Heretofore, books have been moved to and from cutting stations or thelike by means of an intermittently movable conveyor means which affordeda positive drive to the books. The characteristic features of slowoperation and critical timing of such a conveyor are sometimesobjectionable. A positive drive for the book is desirable, since it iseffective to drive the book irrespective of whether or not the propernumber of books is in the stack, in comparison to a continuously movingopposed friction belt type of conveyor for delivering a stack of booksto an operating station wherein the failure of the proper number ofbooks between the friction belts results in failure of conveying.Additionally, a continuously moving friction belt renders the problem ofregister more difficult.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to convey a stack ofbooks to and from fourth and fifth knife stations in a positive mannerirrespective of the number of books in the stack, with a continuouslyoperating conveyor, which has its positive driving means renderedautomatically ineffective at the fourth and fifth knife trimmingstations. Thus, according to another object of the invention, the booksare moved positively by a continuously moving conveyor means to each ofthe fourth and fifth knife stations, at which the conveyor deposits thebooks while the conveyor continues to move without urging or moving thebooks during either the fourth or fifth knife trimming operations. Thus,under this object, the fourth and fifth knife trimmers can operate athigher speed, achieve a better quality of trim, and minimize the amountof maintenance for the conveyor means.

ice

In accordance with another object of the present invention, a conveyingapparatus first engages split books at the fourth knife station andskews the split books to assume divergently oriented positions,whereupon the conveying means causes the books to move along separatepaths on either side of a barrier element which assures that the splitbooks move along separate guideways or paths. Under a further object ofthe invention, the books are separated sufiiciently far apart uponreaching the fifth knife station to permit registration and trimming ofthe excess, unprinted area and thereby the creating of a second bookidentical to the first split book.

A further object of the invention is the employing of a continuous chainelement provided with appearing and disappearing driving lugs which areselectively controlled, not only to drive the books to and from thefourth and fifth knife stations, but which are also adapted to cause thesplit books to take divergent paths after being split at the fourthknife.

More specifically, under this object of the invention, a first set oflugs move the double book to the fourth knife station and disappear,while a second set of lugs, trailing the first mentioned set of lugs,after a period of elapsed time, engage the now split books and rotatethe books to divergently oriented positions before moving the books ontothe fifth station, at which said second mentioned lugs disappear.

According to a still further object of the invention, the trimmingmachine is adapted to accommodate various sizes of books and, to thisend, employs adjustable devices for controlling the disappearingpositions of the conveyor lugs with respect to the fourth and fifthknife stations so that various sizes of books can be trimmed at each ofthese stations.

A further object of the invention is the method of splitting andtrimming a double book into two separate books by splitting the books toform one book of the proper size, and a larger book having a re-trimarea thereon, rotating the books about their centers of gravity toorient the books for movement along divergent paths, and moving andguiding the books sufiiciently far apart so that the larger size bookmay be engaged by a registering device and a knife at the re-trimstation whereby the larger book may be trimmed to a proper size.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferredembodiment of the present invention and the principle thereof and whatis now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying thisprinciple. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same orequivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made asdesired by those skilled in the art without departing from the presentinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a double book undergoing splitting andtrimming operations, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially diagrammatic view showing a lu rality of drivinglugs mounted on an endless chain;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of registering a split book at a fifthknife station;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the registering of a stack ofbooks at a fourth knife station;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing split books moving between the fourth andfifth knife stations;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a pair of conveying lugs;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a conveyor lug;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a fourth knife type of driving lug;

FIG. 9 is a sectional View of a fifth knife type of driving lug; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional View showing the re-trimming operation at thefifth knife station.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown in diagrammatic form the order of operations performed insplitting and trimming a double book into two separate books. The doublebook 15 has been trimmed previously in a three knife trimmer along abottom side 16, a top side 17, and a front side 18.

The double book 15 has a folded edge or a backbone 19 which is stapledor stitched to hold the sheets together. Manifestly, the folded edge 19is not trimmed.

The double book 15 enters the fourth knife station F0, and is registeredat a proper position for splitting into two separate books by a fourthknife 25. The fourth knife 25 severs the double book 15 into a pair ofseparate books 26 and 27, of which the split book 27 is of larger sizethan the book 26 by a portion or area 30, which is not printed. The area.30 is the non-printed, re-trim area which is to be trimmed from thesplit book 27 in order to make the book 27 identical in size to the book26.

The double book 15 is moved to the fourth knife station FO by fourthknife driving lugs or means 32 carried on endless conveyor chains 34.When the fourth knife driving lugs 32 reach the fourth knife station FO,the lugs 32 disappear, that is, drop to a nonoperative driving position,in a manner to be hereinafter described, so that the.

double book 15 can be registered into proper position for severing bythe fourth knife 25 while the double book 15 is at rest.

After the double book 15 has been split, the books 26 and 27 areoriented for movement along divergent paths by fifth knife conveyinglugs 35 secured to the continuous driving chains, 34 and spaced on thedriving chains 34 to follow the fourth knife conveying lugs 32.

As will be hereinafter explained in greater detail, the interior twolugs 35A of the fifth knife driving lugs 35 are provided with forwardlyextending surfaces, which lead the leading surfaces of the remaininglugs 35, so that the interior driving lugs engage each of the respectivebooks 26 and 27 near the fourth knife 25, and cause the books 26 and 27to rotate about their respective centers of gravity. The other drivinglugs 35 engage the respective books and move the books forwardly in thedirection of the arrows in FIG. 1.

Rotation of the books 26 and 27 assures the books will be on either sideof a vertical barrier or guide 40 as the books 26 and 27 move forwardlyfromthe fourth knife 25. The barrier 40 prevents the books 26 and 27from moving back together and guides the book 26 away from the book 27to provide sufiicient space between the split books for a trimmingoperation at the fifth knife station FI.

At the fifth knife station FI, as shown in FIG. 1, the larger size book27 is registered with an interior stop 42, and the fifth knife 45 isoperated to remove the trimmed portion 30, which falls downwardlyinto .atrim chute d-isposed between the fifth knife 45 and the stop 42. Theformerly oversized book 27 is now trimmed to the same size as the book26, and is removed in a downstream direction for collection along withthe books 26.

A double book 15, or alternatively a stack of two or more books, isconveyed from a three knife trimmer machine (not shown) which is thepresent instance is a separate machine, to the left end of the fourthand fifth knife trimmer machine, shown in FIG. 2, of the presentdrawings. Each stack or double book 15 is fed sufficiently forward ofthe sprocket 48 at the left end of the machine so that the fourth knifeconveyor lugs 32 can be rotated to their upper positions by the sprocket48 before engaging the forward edge 18 of a stack or a double book 15.While not shown, the preferred embodiment of the fourth and fifth knifetrimmer of the present invention employs a sma separate conveyordisposed leftwardly. of the 4 sprocket 48, FIG. 2, to assure that thestack or double book 15 is fed forwardly of the pulley 48.

The books are supported on spaced parallel supporting bars 50, whichconstitute a flat bed or table forv supporting the books. As best .seenin FIG. 5, four spaced bars 50 are employed and between each pair ofbars 50 moves a pair of either fourth or fifth knife conveying lugs 32and 35.

The fourth and fifth knife conveying lugs 32 and 35, respectively,differ in construction in that their respective book engaging fingers 53and 54, FIG. 2, are. disposed diffcrently on their respective lugs. Thatis, the fingers 53 of the fourthknife driving lug 32 are disposed at therearward portion at the fourth knife driving lug 32, and the bookengaging fingers 54 of the fifth knife driving lugs 35 are disposed atthe forward portions of the driving lugs 35.

Each of the driving lugs 32 and 35 has a lower foot portion 55 and 56,respectively, adapted to ride along one of a plurality of cam tracks orrails so as to maintain the driving lugs 32 and 35 in the position shownin the left portion of FIG. 2, wherein the respective driving lugs 32and 35 are in position to engage positively a book and carry the booksforwardly. When the foot portions 55 and 56 of the driving lugs 32 and35 are no longer supported by individual cam tracks, the driving lugs 32and 35 rotate under their own weight about their pivotal connections 60with their respective drive chains 34 and drop to ineffective positionsas shown in the right hand portion of FIG. 2 wherein the respectivedriving lugs 53 and 54 are no longer raised above the plane of thesupporting bars 50 so as to be effective to drive the books across thebook supporting bars 50.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, FIG. 8 illustrates in section a fourthdriving lug 32, and FIG. 9 illustrates in section a fifth knife drivinglug 35. The sectional view of FIG. 8 is taken prior'to the fourth knifestation F0, and the section view of FIG. 9 is taken just prior to thefifth knife station FI, it being understood that each of the seven ofthe driving lugs 32 is identical at any given transverse section as areeach of the seven driving lugs 35.

The book supporting plates 50'form the upper and main supportingelements to which are secured a plurality of chain guiding and cam trackdevices for controlling the movement and disappearance of a driving lug32 or 35, the disappearance being rotation of a driving lug 32 or 35 toan ineffective position.

Each of the supporting plates 50"has a rectangular cross-sectionedspacer block 61, FIGS. 8 and 9, secured to its underside by a pluralityof countersunk cap screws 62 extending from the supporting .platethrough bores in the spacer block 61 to a lower bed plate 65 whereby thecam track 50, spacer block .61 and bed plate 65 are secured together ina rigid unit.

Secured to the underside of each of the supporting plates 50 at theouter edges are a pair of upper chain guide or wear strips 72 which aresecured in a fixed position by countersunk cap screws 78, FIG. 8.Secured to the bed plates 65 are a lower pair of chain guide or wearstrips 73, FIG. 8, and wear strip 75, FIG. 9. As seen in these figures,the links of the.endless chain are guided at the left end of the machineby wear strips 72 and 73, and at the right end of the machine by wearstrips 72 and 75.

The wear strips 72 and 73, and 72 and 75 are spaced apart to permit thelongitudinal passage of a drum 68 of each chain link while preventingthe transverse movement of the links of the chains 34 due: to verticalheight of the opposed side plates 69 and 70 of the chain links beinggreater than the spacing between the opposed wear strips. The chains 34,thus, are guided on a relatively straight line path fromone end of themachine to the opposite end of the machine, and thereby assure that therespective conveying lugs 32 and 35 thereon also partake of a straightline movement during their course of travel.

It is important that the chains and conveying lugs 32 and 35 beprevented from partaking of excessive lateral movement since it is aregister of the feet 55 and 56 of the respective driving lugs 32 and 35,with cam tracks or flanges such as the flange 76 on the wear strips,FIG. 8, or with the cam tracks or flanges 98 and 99 on movable cam trackmeans or devices 80 and 81.

It will be remembered that so long as the cam foot 65 or 66 is inengagement with a cam track such as 76, 98 or 99, that the respectivedriving lug 32 or 35 will be held upwardly in an effective drivingposition, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and in the left hand portion ofFIG. 2. But it will be remembered that when the respective cam feet 55and 56 are no longer in engagement with one of these cam tracks orsurfaces, that the respective driving lug will pivot about the pin 60 torotate to a downward ineffective position as shown in the right handportion of FIG. 2. As can best be understood from FIGS. 5 and 6, thelower chain guides 73 are provided with cam tracks or flanges 76, whichdecrease in size from the left hand portion of the machine, as viewed inthese figures, to the right hand portion of the machine. Thus, the camflanges or cam tracks 76A in the left portion of FIG. 5 extend fartheroutwardly from the edges of the support plate than do the cam flanges763, shown to the right of the break in FIG. 5.

The driving lugs 32 and 35 each have a central body portion 108 which isapertured to receive a barrel 101 of a chain link extension 102. Thelink extensions 102 have side plates 103, the inner one of which isconnected to an outer side plate 70 of a link of a chain 34. The drivinglugs pivot about their barrels 181' of the chains extensions 182 and arelimited against clockwise rotation, FIG. 7, by a pin 104 engaging aforward barrel 1% on the link extension 102.

As can best be appreciated from FIG. 2, there are two respective camtrack slides 80 and 81 which are selectively movable to determine thepositions of the respective end portions of the cam tracks or flanges 98and 99, and thereby at what positions the respective fourth and fifthdriving lugs 32 and 35 rotate to an ineffective position.

Each of the cam track slides 80 and 81 has secured to the lower portionthereof a central rack 84 which is in meshing engagement with a piniongear 85 secured on rotatable shafts 86 and 87, respectively, FIG. 2. Toaccommodate a larger width of sheet or book, the respective shafts 86and 87 are rotated in a counterclockwise direction to move the racks 84fleftwardly, and thereby move leftwardly the left end or drop-offportions 88 or 89 of the cam track slides 88 and 81.

Thus, the respective pushing lugs 32 and 35 pivot to release the bookfor a trimming operation at the fourth and fifth trimming stations at anearlier time in their rightward movement than the driving lugs 32 and 35release for smaller size books. The velocity at which the chain 34 ismoving is also changed when changing the positions of the drop-offportions 88 or 89 to maintain proper timing between the third knifetrimming machine and the fourth and fifth knife trimming machine.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the fourth and fifth knife cam trackslides 80 and 81 each have a lower tie plate 90 adapted to be in slidingengagement with the underside of its respective lower bed plate 65.Secured to the outer edges of each of the tie plates 90 by fasteners 91are cam plates 93 for the cam slide 80 and cam plates 94 for the camslide 81. The cam plates 93 and 94 have upwardly extending cam flanges98 and 99, respectively, for engagement with a cam foot and 56,respectively.

Additionally, the cam plates 93 and 94 are formed With interiallydirected tongues 101 for sliding engagement with the grooves 102 in therespective bed plates 65, so that the respective cam tracks and 81 havea sliding tongue and groove relationship with a stationary bed plate 65.As should be apparent, the turning of either of the pinions by either ofthe shafts 86 and 87 causes a tie plate to move relative to itssupporting bed plate 65, and thereby cause the respectively upstandingcam flanges 98 and 99 to move rightwardly or leftwardly.

Recapitulating, the cam flanges 76 of the respective plates 50 are ofprogressively decreasing dimensions proceeding from left to right, inFIGS. 2 and 5. Thus, at the leftward portion of these figures, the camflanges 76 are of sufficient width to extend beneath the narrow cam 55of the pusher lug 32 as well as beneath the wider foot 56 of the pusherlug 35. As seen in FIG. 8, the cam flange 76 is not in engagement withthe cam feet 55 of the pusher lugs 32 when the pusher lugs 32 are movingacross the cam surfaces 98 of the cam slide 80.

Thus, when the cam feet 55 are moved rightwardly past the end portion 88of the cam track slide 80, the finger 53 on the pusher lug 32 fallsdownwardly and rotates .to a counter-clockwise or inoperative positionwherein the finger 53 is disposed beneath the plane of the top of theplates 50. The feet 56 of the pusher lugs 35 are wider than the foot 35of the pusher lug 32. The feet 56 are of sufficient width, that when theend portion of the cam track 88 is passed, the inwardly directedportions 105 on the feet 56 are adapted to rest on a cam flange 7613(FIG. 5) which is of a narrower width than the cam flange 76A.

Thus, the pusher fingers 35 will remain in operative upright positionwhile moving entirely through the fourth position F0, and in the spacebetween the fourth knife station F0 and the fifth knife station F1.However, when the fifth knife driving lugs 35 proceed rightwardly pastthe end 89 of the cam track slide 81, the driving lugs 35 rotate to dropdownwardly to the position shown at the rightward end of FIG. 2. Thefourth knife driving lugs 32 are disposed outwardly of the cam surfaces76B and cam slide 81 so as not to engage them as the lugs 33 passthrough the fifth knife station in their ineffective positions.

When the fourth knife driving lug 32 brings the books into the fourthknife station FO, a rock shaft 110, FIG. 4, rotates in acounterclockwise direction to rotate a plurality of attached arms 111,carrying stops 112, to engage lower surfaces 113 of the stops 112against the top surfaces of the supporting plates Stl.

Preferably, the rock shaft 118 has three stop supporting arms 111 andstops 112 on each side of the fourth knife 25. The books are movedpositively by fingers 43 of the driving lugs 32 to within approximatelyone-quarter of an inch of engaging the register surface 114 on each ofthe stops 112. At this point, the driving lugs 32 have rotateddownwardly to an ineffective position since the cam feet 55 on therespective driving lugs 32 have passed rightwardly of the supportingflanges 9 8 on the respective cam slides 80. The double books 15 remainstationary until a plurality of registering fingers 118, FIG. 4, movedownwardly and forwardly to engage the front edges 18 of the double book15 to move the books against the register surfaces 114 of the stops 112.

The registering fingers 118 are adjustably mounted on a mounting block119 secured to an oscillatable arm 120. The oscillating movement of arm120 is controlled by a suitable cam means (not shown) Which lowers theregistering fingers 118 into a registering position to engage the doublebook 15 as the fourth knife driving lugs 32 fall away. The cam meanscauses the oscillatable bar 120 to move forwardly to cause theregistering movement of the double book 15 against a registering surface114 on register stops or shoes 112.

In addition to the longitudinal registration afforded by the stops 112and registering fingers 118, the double book 'is also transverselyregistered by a pair of interiorly reciprocating push bars 125 and 126(FIG. carried on crank arms 127, which are also oscillated by suitablecan: to move inwardly toward each other to register the book beneath thefourth knife 25. When properly registered, the fourth knife oscillatesto trim the book 26 to the proper size, and to leave all of theunprinted area 30 on the book 27.

The fourth knife 25 includes an upper blade 25A and a lower blade 25B,as shown in FIG. 5. While not shown, the double book is clamped adjacentthe severing cut by a clamp immediately prior to the cutting operationby the fourth knife 25. As the upper knife 25A begins to enter the book,the register fingers 118 begin to oscillate upwardly and rearwardly torelease the double book, and likewise the opposed, side-registerplungers 125 and 126. move slightly outwardly from the registerpositions. At this time, the portion of the double book 15 that willbecome book 26 is released and the portion of the double book 15 thatwill become book 27 is held stationary.

The upper knife blade 25 has a bevelled edge causing the book 26"to moveslightly as it severs the double book 15. If the book 26 were notreleased by the registering devices, the bevel of the upper knife 25Amay cause the edges of the separate books 26 and 27 being severed to beforced downwardly into the groove for the upper knife 25A and beboundtherein after an upward movement of the knife 25A.

After .the knife 25A moves upwardly to a position above the plane of thebooks on the supporting plates 50, the rock shaft 110 oscillates to liftthe stops 112 also above the tops of the now-separate books 26 and 27 sothat the books 26 and 27 may pass thereunder.

The chains 34 have been continuously moving during the splittingoperation at the fourth station FO with the fourth knife driving lugsrotated downwardly to their inoperative positions. Thus, the chains 34are continuously moving the driving lug 35 that follow the fourth knifedriving lugs, toward the front edge 18 of the now-split books26 and 27.The movement of the conveyor and spacing of the lugs 35 from the lugs 32is such that the severing operation has been completed prior to theengagement of the split books by the driving lugs 35. Also, the registerstops 112 are rotated upwardly above the plane of the split books orstack of split books 26 and 27 prior to engagement of these books by thedriving lugs 35 so as not to interfere withmovement of the books to thefifth knife station FI.

As will be explained hereinafter, the fifth knife driving lugs 35function to rotate the split books 26 and 27 about their centers ofgravity so that the split books 26 and 27 are oriented with their innerleading and adjacent edges spread apart so as not to encounter a leadingedge 130,

FIGS. 1 and 5, of the barrier element. The interior two driving lugs 35Aof the fifth knife driving lugs 35 have suitably fastened to theirforward faces an additional and forwardly extending plate 132, FIGS. 2and 5, to engage the front edges 18 of the books 26 and 27 prior toengagement by the other driving lugs 35. That is, since the driving lugs35 and 35A are all aligned in a straight line across the path of travel,the additional forward plates '132 on the interior driving lugs 35Aengage the interior portions of the split books 26 and 27 prior toengagement of these books by the outer pairs of driving lugs 35 andhence cause the books to rotate about their respective centers ofgravity. Thus, the interior and adjacent edges of 'the books 26 and 27swing apart and away'frorn the 8. from the book 27 for the purpose ofaffording sufficient spacing between books at the fifth, knife stationPI for the final trimming operation. This space is needed to permitoscillational movement of a side register ,42 to and from a registeringposition and for release and dropping of the trimmed portion 30 into atrimchute therefor.

It will be'noted that the fourth knife. 25 and fifth knife 45 v(FIG. 5)are aligned along a line parallel to the plates 50 and path of movementof the drivinglugs 32 and 35. Thus, the guide element 40 guides the book26 away from the book 27 so that the unprinted portion 30 of the book 27may be moved beneath the fifth knife 45 and into the space vacated bythe book 26 adjacent the fifth knife 45.

The register 42 is cam controlled to oscillate into a predeterminedregister position and remain stationary in this position during thetrimming operation. A side guide 135, disposed along the outer edge ofthe trimming machine between the fourth and fifth knife'stations servesto direct the book 27 to a side edge register or pusher 136. The sideregister pusher 136 slides the book 27 transversely against the nowstationary side register stop 42.

For the purpose of longitudinal registration at the fifth knife stationFI, as best seen in FIG. 3, a rock shaft has fixed thereon a pluralityof stop supporting arms 148 for rotation to bring stops 149 downwardlyinto engagement with supporting pairs 50 to hold the book 27 in apredetermined position so that only the excess area 30 is removed by thefifth knife blade 45. Also at the fifth knife station FI, a plurality ofregister fingers 150 are carried on a mounting block 151 secured to anoscillatable rod 152. The oscillatable rod 152 is secured to a crank arm153, FIG. 3, to move the register fingers 150'against the front edgelSof the book 27 to move the book 27 into engagement with the: stops 149,this movement being approximately one quarter of an inch. The fingers 54of the lugs 35 have, immediately prior to engagement of the book 27 bythe register fingers 150, rotated from their driving positions toinoperative positions below the surface of the support plates 50 becausethe cam feet 56 of the driving lugs 54 have moved past the end portion89 of the cam slide 81.

That is, as the cam feet 56 move pastthe end portion 89 of theadjustable cam track 81, the driving lugs 35 rotate to the position,shown in the right hand portion of FIG. 2. After the upper blade 45A,FIG. 10, of the fifth knife blades 45A and 45B has severed the trimportion 30, the trim portion 30 falls into a chip chute beneath thesurface of the supporting plates 50. Thus, the book 27 has been trimmedto the identical size of book 26. The book 27 is removed from the fifthknife station when the stops 150 are moved upwardly. At this time, adrop roller (not shown) comes down on the upper surface of the book 27and engages book 27 against a continuously rotating friction belt 162shown disposed beneath the book 27 in FIG. 3.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a double book 15 is moved bypositive acting fingers on the fourth knife driving lugs 32 to thefourth knife station and adjacent the fourth knife registering stops112, whereupon registering devices register the double book 15 prior tocutting by the fourth knife 25. The double book is split so that onebook is formed to size, while the other book has a marginal portion 30thereon which is removed at a fifth knife station.

Fifth knife lugs 35 are spaced on the endless chains 34 and follow thefourth knife driving lugs at a predetermined distance so as to move intoengagement with the split books 26 and 27 after completion of thecutting operation. The interior two of the fifth knife driving lugs 35are provided with forwardly extending portions 132, which engage thebooks at their interior portions, and rotate. the books about theircenters of gravity, to an orientation with the forward, inner edgesdirected apart.

In this manner, the forward edges of the books are oriented fromencountering a forward edge 130 of a barrier or element 40 as thedriving lugs 35 move the books 9 from the guide fourth knife station F0.The barrier element 40 guides the book 26 away from the book 27 so thatby the time the books reach the fifth knife station F1 there issufficient space between the adjacent edges of the respective books forregistering and severing of the marginal area 30 from the larger sizebook 27.

The driving lugs disappear or drop into ineffective position at thefifth knife station FI where longitudinal and side registering of thebook 27 is made relative to a fifth knife 45. The fifth knife 45 seversthe re-trim area 30 from book 27, thereby making the book 27 the sameSiZe as book 26.

Thus, it will be seen that under the present invention the books aremoved by a continuously moving and endless conveying means including theendless chains 34, a first set of driving lugs or means 32, and a secondset of driving lugs or means 35. The sets of driving lugs 32 and 35 areretained in their upper, operative, book-mow ing positions by one of thecam flanges 76 and 99 or 98, collectively, which constitute a means forholding the first and second lugs in operative book engaging positions.Moreover, the respective cam slides 80 and 81 constitute movablesupporting means for the first and second set of driving lugs 32 and 35,respectively.

Additionally, the forwardly extending surfaces 32 on the driving lugs35A constitute means associated with said second set of driving lugs 35to engage the books prior to engagement by the remainder of the secondset of driving lugs 35 to rotate the books about their respectivecenters of gravity. Thus, the books are canted or oriented to move pastthe barrier means without engaging the barrier means 40. The barriermeans 40 assure separation of the books, and guide the book 26 away fromthe larger book 27 and the fifth knife so that the unprinted area 30 canbe moved beneath the fifth knife 45 and into the position vacated by thebook 26.

Hence, while preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedand illustrated, it is to be understood that these are capable ofvariation and modification.

I claim:

1. In a book trimming machine for separating a double book into separatebooks at a separating station, and trimming at least one of saidseparate books at a re-trim station, a first knife means at saidseparating station for severing said double book into two separate booksat least one of which requires further trimming, means to convey saidbooks and including spaced book engaging lugs for moving the double bookto said first knife means and for engaging said separate books onopposite sides of said first knife means and skewing said books apartprior to moving said books to said re-trim station, divider means forpreventing said books from moving into engagement with each other, and asecond knife means at said re-trim station for trimming at least one ofsaid books.

2. In a book trimming machine for separating a double book into separatebooks and trimming at least one of said separate books at a re-trimstation, a first cutting means at a first station for severing saiddouble book into two separate books, at least one of which separatebooks requires further trimming; a continually moving endless conveyingmeans, including a first set of driving means disposed in an operativeposition to engage posi tively, and to move said double book to saidfirst cutting means, said conveying means also including a second set ofdriving means disposed in an operative position to positively engagesaid severed books after said books have been separated and to move saidseparated books from said first station to said re-trim station; and asecond cutting means at said re-trim station for trimming at least oneof said separate books.

3. In a book trimming machine for separating a double book having acentrally located non-printed portion into two separate identical booksand for trimming said central portion from said double book, cuttingmeans at a first station for splitting the books into two separatebooks; an endless conveying means including a first set of driving meanspivotally mounted on said endless conveying means and extending toengage a double book when in an operative position and to move thedouble book to said first station at which station said driving meanspivots to an inoperative position, said endless conveying means alsoincluding a second set of driving means being pivotally mounted on saidendless conveying means, said second set of driving means extending toengage the separate book when in an operative position and to move theseparated books from said first station to a second re-trim station; andmeans for holding said first set of driving means in an operativeposition until said first set of driving means reaches said firststation where said first set of driving means pivots to an inoperativeposition; said means holding said second set of driving means in anoperative driving position until said re-trim station where said secondset of driving means pivots to an inoperative position.

4. In a book trimming machine for separating a stack of double bookshaving centrally located nonprinted portions into two stacks of separateand identical books, and for trimming said central portion from saiddouble books, cutting means at a first station for splitting the doublebooks into separate books; an endless conveying means including a firstset of driving lugs pivotally mounted on said endless conveying meansand upstanding above the plane of the books when in an operative position to engage and to move the double books to said first station atwhich station said driving lugs pivot to an inoperative position, saidendless conveying means also including a second set of driving lugsbeing pivotally mounted on said endless conveying means, said lugsupstanding above the plane of the books when in an operative position toengage the separate books and to move the books from said first stationto a second retrim station; means for holding said first set of drivinglugs in an operative position until said first station is reached wheresaid driving lugs pivot to an inoperative position and for holding saidsecond set of lugs in an operative driving position until said re-trimstation is reached where said second set of driving lugs pivot to aninoperative position; said means for holding said first and second setof lugs in an operative position including a first movable supportingmeans for said first set of driving lugs, and including a second movablesupporting means for holding said second set of driving lugs in anoperative position, said first and second movable means being movable tovarious positions which render said first and second set of lugs,respectively, inoperative at corresponding various positions fordifferent size books.

5. In a book trimming machine for separating double books havingcentrally located non-printed areas into separate and identical booksand for trimming said central areas from said double books, cuttingmeans at a first station for splitting double books into separate books;an endless conveying means including a first set of driving lugspivotally mounted on said endless conveying means and extending toengage one or more of the double books and to move the double books tosaid first station at which station said driving lugs pivot to aninoperative position, said endless conveying means also including asecond set of driving lugs being pivotally mounted on said endlessconveying means and extending to engage the separate books and to movethe separate books from said first station to a re-trim station; meansfor holding said first set of driving lugs in an operative positionuntil said first station where said first set of driving lugs pivot toan inoperative position, and for holding said second set of lugs in anoperative position until said re-trim station where said second set ofdriving lugs pivot to an inoperative position; means associated withsaid second set of driving lugs to engage said books prior to engagementby said second set of driving lugs to rotate said books about theirrespective centers of gravity, and thereby orient said separate books tohave their inner, adjacent and leading edges rotated apart; and barriermeans adjacent said cutting means to assure separation of said separatebooks, as said books are moved to said re-trim station.

6. In a book trimming machine for separating a stack of double bookshaving centrally located non-printed portions into two stacks ofseparate and identical books, and for trimming said central portion fromsaid double books, cutting means at a first station for splitting thedouble books into separate books; an endless conveying means including afirst set of driving lugs pivotally mounted on said endless conveyingmeans and upstanding above the plane of the books when in an operativeposition to engage and to move the double books to said first station atwhich station said driving lugs pivotto an inoperative position, saidendless conveying means also including a second set of driving lugsbeing pivotally mounted on said endless conveying means, said lugsupstanding above the plane of the books when in an operative position toengage the separate books and to move the books from said first stationto a re-trim station; means for holding said first set of driving lugsin an operative position until said first station where said first setof driving lugs pivot to an inoperative position and for holding saidsecond set of lugs in an operative driving position until said retrimstation where said second set of driving lugs pivot to a pivotpositionysaid means for holding said first and second set of lugs in anoperative position including a first movable supporting means for saidfirst set of driving lugs, and including a second movable supportingmeans for holding said second set of driving lugs in an operativeposition, said first and second movable means movable to variouspositions which render said first and second set of lugs, respectively,inoperative at corresponding various positions for different size books;and barrier means adjacent said cutting means to assure separation ofsaid separate books, as said books move toward said retrim station, saidbarrier means inclined at an angle to the path of movement of saidsecond set of driving lugs to guide at least one of said books away fromthe other said books as said books are moved forwardly by said secondset of driving lugs, said barrier means causing said books to separate adistance to provide operating space at the re-trim station to registerand sever said unprinted area frornthe larger of said separate books.

7. In a book trimming machine for separting a double book or a stack ofdouble books having a centrally located non-printed area into twoseparate identical books .or stacks of identical books and for trimmingsaid central area from said double book or books, cutting means at afirst station for splitting the books into two separate books; anendless conveying means including a first set of driving lugs pivotallymounted on said endless conveying means and upstanding above the planeof the books when in an operative position to engage one or more of thedouble books and to move the double books to said first station, wheresaid driving lugs pivot to an inoperable position, said endlessconveying means also including a second set of driving lugs beingpivotally mounted on said endless conveying means, and upstanding abovethe plane of the. books when in an operative position to engage one ormore of the books to move the books from said first station to a re-trimstation; means for holding said first set of driving lugs in anoperative position until said first station is reached where saiddriving lugs pivot to an inoperative position, and for holding saidsecond set of lugs in an operative driving position until said re-trimstation is reached where said second set of driving lugs pivot to aninoperative position; a second cutting means at said re-trim station andbeing aligned with said first cutting means along a path parallel to thepath of movement of said endless conveying means, means onsaid endlessconveying means to engage said books prior to engagement by said secondset of driving lugs to rotate said books about their respective centersof gravity, and thereby re-orient said books about their respectivecenters of gravity to have their inner adjacent and leading edgesrotated apart; barrier means adjacent said first cutting means to assureseparation of said separate books as said books move to said re-trimstation, said barrier means being inclined at an angle to the path ofmovement of said second set of driving lugs to guide at least one ofsaid books away from the other of said books as said books are movedforwardly by said second set of driving lugs, said barrier means causingsaid books to separate to provide operating space at the re-trim stationto register and sever said unprinted area from the larger of saidseparate books; and register means at said retrim station to positionsaid book having the re-trim area thereon to a proper position to seversaid re-trim area therefrom.

8. In a book separating and trimming machine for a double book having acentrally located re-trim portion, which, when removed from a doublebook leaves two separate and identical books, a frame means; a pluralityof spaced supporting bars extending longitudinally from a firstseparating station to a re-trirn station, and adapted to receive and,support one or more of said double books arranged in a stack; endlessconveying means disposed between said spaced bars and having pivotallymounted thereon first and second sets of bell crank means; a first armon each of said bell crank means for engaging and pushing the stack ofbooks along said spaced bars; track means on said spaced bars forslideable engagement with the other arm of each of said bell crank meansand operable to hold said bell crank means in operative drivingpositions so long as a track is disposed in engagement with said otherarms; a first knife means for severing said double book to form one bookwhich is of a predetermined size, and a second book which is larger thansaid predetermined size, by the re-trim area present along its inneredge; a second cutting means at said retrim station, and aligned withsaid first cutting means along a line parallel to the path of movementof said endless conveying means; barrier means disposed be-. tween saidfirst and second knife means and operable to guide said second book awayfrom said first book to afford space between the books at the re-trimstation for registering of the re-trim area on the side of the said onebook at said second cutting means; and forwardly disposed surfaces onthe interior ones of said second set of bell crank means for engagingsaid books at the first station prior to engagement by the remainder ofthe set of second driving lugs to rotate said separate books about theirrespective centers of gravity so that the interior and leading edges ofthe books are separated to prevent engagement with the leading edge ofsaid barrier element.

9. The trimming machine of claim 8 wherein said supporting bars havesuccessively narrowing width of track means, said other arms of saidsecond sets of hell crank means extending inwardly of said other arms onsaid first set of bell crank means; a first movable track means forholding the first set of bell crank means in an operative position pastthe point where said other arms on said first set of bell crank meansare engageable with said track means so that said movable trackdetermines the position at which said first set of hell crank meanspivot to their inoperative positions; and a second movable track meansfor holding said second bell crank means in an operative position pastthe point at which the other arms of said second bell crank means areengageable with said track means on said supporting bar so that saidsecond movable track means determines the position at which said secondset. of bell crank meansflpivot to an inoperative position.

10. In a book trimming machine for separating a double book having acentrally located non-printed area into two separate identical books andfor trimming said central area from said double book, cutting means at afirst station for splitting the books into two separate books; anendless conveying means including a first set of driving lugs pivotallymounted on said endless conveying means and extending to engage a doublebook when in an operative position and to push said double book to saidfirst station, at which station said driving lugs pivot to aninoperative position, said endless conveying means also including asecond set of driving lugs being pivotally mounted on said endlessconveying means and extending to engage the separated books when in anoperative position and to push the separated books from said firststation to a re-trim station; means for holding said first set ofdriving lugs in an operative position until said first station Wheresaid driving lugs pivot to an inoperative position, and for holding saidsecond set of lugs in an operative driving position until said re-trimstation where said second set of driving lugs pivot to an inoperativeposition; longitudinal and transverse registering means at said firstand re-trim stations for registering said double book so that said firstcutting means severs said double book to form one book of the propersize and includes all the unprinted area on another separate book, and asecond cutting means at the re-trim station to sever said unprinted areafrom said other book to form said other book of a size identical to saidfirst book.

11. The method of separating and trimming a double book having acentrally located portion into two separate identical books with thecentral portion trimmed from each one of said books, said methodcomprising the steps of: transporting the books to a splitting stationand cutting one of said books to the desired size and leaving saidcentral portion on said second of said books; rotating said books toseparate their forward edges for movement in separate paths; and movingsaid books to a further station where said central portion is cut fromsaid second book.

12. The method of separating and trimming a double book having acentrally located portion into two separate identical books with thecentral portion trimmed from each one of said books, said methodcomprising the steps of: transporting the books to a splitting stationand cutting one of said books to the desired size and leaving saidcentral portion on said second of said books; rotating said books abouttheir centers of gravity to separate their forward edges for movement inseparate paths; moving said books to a further station where saidcentral portion area is cut from said second book; and guiding saidbooks apart during movement of said books to said further station toafford sufficient space to register said second book at said furtherstation.

No references cited.

WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

12. THE METHOD OF SEPARATING AND TRIMMING A DOUBLE BOOK HAVING ACENTRALLY LOCATED PORTION INTO TWO SEPARATE IDENTICAL BOOKS WITH THECENTRAL PORTION TRIMMED FROM EACH ONE OF SAID BOOKS, SAID METHODCOMPRISING THE STEPS OF: TRANSPORTING THE BOOKS TO A SPLITTING STATIONAND CUTTING ONE OF SAID BOOKS TO THE DESIRED SIZE AND LEAVING SAIDCENTRAL PORTION ON SAID SECOND OF SAID BOOKS; ROTATING SAID BOOKS ABOUTTHEIR CENTERS OF GRAVITY TO SEPARATE THEIR FORWARD EDGES FOR MOVEMENT INSEPARATE PATHS; MOVING SAID BOOKS TO A FURTHER STATION WHERE SAIDCENTRAL PORTION AREA IS CUT FROM SAID SECOND BOOK; AND GUIDING SAIDBOOKS APART DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID BOOKS TO SAID FURTHER STATION TOAFFORD SUFFICIENT SPACE TO REGISTER SAID SECOND BOOK AT SAID FURTHERSTATION.